Song: Breathe Underwater
Artist: Placebo
Album: Battle For The Sun (2009)
Notes: I am confident about everything apart from the outro. There are several guitars
layered, and the bass and drums get very heavy so it's hard to hear what's going on. I
have tabbed the main parts, but in the outro there is at least one more guitar playing
a very high repeating part which I haven't included. The song has a very driving rhythm
which I have tried to tab. I have included a marker for every 8th beat to help. Enjoy
playing it!
Tuning: EBGDAD (Drop D)
--Intro--
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI---------------------------------I
DI---------------------------------I PLAY x 4
AI-14--9--9-9--14-14--9---9-9-9--I
DI---------------------------------I
8 8
--Verse 1--
EI-----------------I
BI-----------------I
GI-----------------I
DI-----------------I PLAY x 8
AI-----------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Here comes another fall from grace...'
8
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'I try to start a song...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I
GI-------------------------------------------------I
DI-------------------------------------------------I
AI-------------------------------------------------I
DI-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
'There's a fever coming on...'
8 8 8
--Pre-Chorus--
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'It's hard to reconcile...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------------I
GI-------------------------------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------I
'...I've become'
8 8
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'With a wounded child...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------------I
GI-11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--------I
DI-x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---------I
AI-9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---------I
DI---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------I
'Hiding deep inside...'
8 8 8
EI--------------------------------I
BI--------------------------------I
GI-4-4-7---7-6---444-7------------I
DI-x-x-x---x-x---xxx-x------------I
AI-2-2-5---5-4---222-5------------I
DI--------------------------------I
8 8
--Chorus--
This is played on two guitars in the recording, however if you're
playing on your own you can play both parts together just combine
the tabs below into one.
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Breathe underwater.....'
8 8 8 8
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Want to see another dawn...'
8 8 8 8
REPEAT CHORUS
--Bit between Chorus and Verse 2--
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI---------------------------------I
DI---------------------------------I
AI-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI---------------------------------I
8 8
--Verse 2--
(Clean Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-4-4-----4-4-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----4-4-----4-4-----I PLAY x2
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
'Take my ego for a ride'
8 8 8 8
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-2-2-----2-2-----1-1-----1-1-----2-2-----2-2-----4-4-----4-4-----I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
'My weaknesses lay bare...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-----------------0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----I
AI-2-2-----2-2-------------------------------------I
DI-------------------------------------------------I
'But it's the last time...'
8 8 8
--Pre-Chorus 2--
The rhythm guitar is more or less the same until the very end this pre-chorus,
but if you listen carefully you'll hear the clean guitar part from the verse
continues in section as well. I have tabbed this too.
(Clean Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-4-4-----4-4-----4-4-----4-4-------------------------------------I
AI---------------------------------2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'It's hard to reconcile...'
8 8 8 8
(Clean Guitar)
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----I
AI---------------------------------I
DI---------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI---------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
'...I've become'
8 8
(Clean Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-4-4-----4-4-----4-4-----4-4-------------------------------------I
AI---------------------------------2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'With a wounded child...'
8 8 8 8
(Clean Guitar)
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----I
AI-------------------------------------------------I
DI-------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I (This is the rough
GI-11--11--11--13/14--14--14-14-16/18--18--18--18--I timing, as the
DI-x---x---x---x---x--x---x--x--x-/x---x---x---x---I rhythm is tricky)
AI-9---9---9---11/12--12--12-12-14/16--16--16--16--I
DI---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-I
'Hiding deep inside...'
8 8 8
(Rhythm Guitar)
EI--------------------------------I
BI--------------------------------I
GI-4-4-7---7-6---444-7------------I
DI-x-x-x---x-x---xxx-x------------I
AI-2-2-5---5-4---222-5------------I
DI--------------------------------I
8 8
NOW PLAY CHORUS x2
--Bridge--
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-1611-1111-16-16-11--111114/16-18181818181818181616161616161616I
DI-x--x--x-x--x--x---x---x-x-x-----x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-I
AI-149--9-9--14-14-9---9-9-12/14-16161616161616161414141414141414I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
8 8 8 8
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-1611-1111-16-16-11--111114/16-18181818181818181616161616161616I
DI-x--x--x-x--x--x---x---x-x-x-----x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-I
AI-149--9-9--14-14-9---9-9-12/14-16161616161616161414141414141414I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-111111111111111-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-111111111111111-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-111111111111111-I
(These are 11s, not super-fast 1s)
8 8 8 8
REPEAT BRIDGE
--Final Chorus--
Note that the rhythm part has changed the D chord is now played an
octave higher. The bunched up notes are 12s, not 1s and 2s.
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Breathe underwater.....'
8 8 8 8
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Coming up for air...'
8 8 8 8
REPEAT FINAL CHORUS
--Outro--
'#' means tremolo pick these at 16 note per bar
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI---14--14/1614----14--14/1614----14--14/1614----14--14/1614--I
DI---x---x--x--x-----x---x--x--x-----x---x--x--x-----x---x--x--x---I
AI---12--12/1412----12--12/1412----12--12/1412----12--12/1412--I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
AI--#---------------#---------------#---------------#--------------I
DI-4---------------0---------------7---------------6---------------I
'Coming up for air...'
8 8 8 8
REPEAT OUTRO
Then end on these notes:
(Lead Guitar)
EI-------------I
BI-------------I
GI-14---------I
DI-x-----------I
AI-12---------I
DI-------------I
I I
I (R Guitar )I
EI-------------I
BI-------------I
GI-------------I
DI-------------I
AI-------------I
DI-4----------I
